The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has developed several publications to support child abduction victims and their families.

AMBER Alert Joins Twitter (February 2014), an article from OJJDP’s News @ a Glance, highlights the availability of an AMBER Alert Twitter account, which will make it easier for the Alerts to reach followers.HTML

Guide for Implementing or Enhancing an Endangered Missing Advisory (March 2011) provides AMBER Alert coordinators, law enforcement, and public safety professionals with an effective and efficient way to implement an Endangered Missing Advisory (EMA) plan.PDF

Crime of Family Abduction: A Child's and Parent's Perspective (May 2010) dispels the prevailing misconceptions surrounding family abduction by providing a firsthand account of the psychological trauma and physical dangers often faced by children who are abducted by family members. Includes strategies to help parents searching for their children cope with the aftermath of the abduction. Abstract | PDFSpanish Abstract | Spanish PDF

You're Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment (May
2008) presents the stories of several child abduction survivors and how they
have grown and developed since their traumatic experiences. Written by the
survivors themselves, the publication provides information to help other child
abduction survivors cope with their own experiences and begin their journeys
towards a better future. Abstract | PDF | Spanish Abstract | Spanish PDF |

What About Me? Coping With the Abduction of a Brother or Sister (May 2007), written by siblings of children who have been abducted, provides information to help and support children of all ages when their brother or sister is kidnapped. Abstract | PDFSpanish Abstract | Spanish PDF |

When Your Child Is Missing: A Family Survival Guide (May 2010) provides parents with the most current information on, and helpful insights into, what families should do when a child is missing. Contains advice concerning what to expect when a child is missing, what needs to be done, and where to go for help. Abstract | PDFSpanish Abstract | Spanish PDF

Local Law Enforcement. If your child is missing, immediately call your local law enforcement agency to make a report. Be prepared to give the law enforcement agency information about your child, including his or her name, date of birth, height, weight, and any other unique identifiers such as eyeglasses and braces. Tell them when you noticed that your child was missing and what clothing he or she was wearing. Request that your child's name and identifying information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File.

The Association of Missing and Exploited Children's Organizations (AMECO) is a membership organization of nonprofit local agencies in the United States and Canada that provide services to the families of missing children. They can help with resource referrals as well as advocacy, poster and flier development and dissemination, and aid to local law enforcement. Visit their Web site at www.amecoinc.org or call them at 877–263–2620.

Additional information about the topic of child protection and other juvenile justice issues is available from the Office of Justice Programs' National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Visit the NCJRS Web site to learn more.